Tint Those Windows

The payback for that is about three years, sometimes four years," said Harrison Hung of TintCenter.com. "The life of the window film is around 15 years, so you get 11 years of cost savings."

Get Uncle Sam To Pitch In

Upgrading your house with new doors and windows will help you save on energy costs, and Uncle Sam will even pitch in.

"You can get government tax discounts when you make home improvements that save you energy, like new windows and doors," said Pyun.

The tax breaks and deductions for green home improvements are a result of the 2005 Energy Policy Act. And the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 extended many consumer tax incentives originally introduced in 2005 act.

Consumers can get tax credits for buying or leasing some hybrid or plug-in vehicles, or by installing solar energy systems. But the easiest move is to make sure to buy Energy Star appliances when you're ready to upgrade.

Energy Star is a government program that supports especially energy-efficient appliances. The Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy work together to maintain very high standards for the products they endorse.

Everything from clothes washers to dehumidifiers are among the approved products, and using them can save a substantial amount of energy and expense. According to Energystar.gov, Americans saved $12 billion in energy costs in 2005. The certified products also kept enough gases out of the atmosphere to equal elimination of emissions from 23 million cars.

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